Decimeters to Meters
Type a value in either box to convert between decimeters and meters. The factor is 0.1.
| Decimeters | Meters |
|---|---|
| 1 dm | 0.1 m |
| 2 dm | 0.2 m |
| 3 dm | 0.3 m |
| 5 dm | 0.5 m |
| 10 dm | 1 m |
| 25 dm | 2.5 m |
| 50 dm | 5 m |
| 100 dm | 10 m |
How to use
- Enter a value in the Decimeters field.
- The Meters figure appears immediately — no button to press.
- Typing in the Meters field converts back to Decimeters the same way.
- Use the reference table for the values that come up most often.
Decimeters to Meters formula
The factor from decimeters to meters is 0.1.
m = dm × 0.1
Put another way, one decimeter is exactly 1/10 of a meter.
Why this factor: the decimeter and the meter are both defined against the meter, so dividing one definition by the other gives 0.1 directly. Both definitions are set out in full below.
To go the other way, divide by 0.1 — or use the Meters to Decimeters converter, which is the same calculation reversed.
Worked example
Take 5 dm and multiply by the factor 0.1: the result is 0.5 m.
5 dm × 0.1 = 0.5 m
The converter above does this for any value you type, in either direction.
What is a decimeter?
A decimeter is one tenth of a meter — 10 centimeters.
Definition: Exactly 0.1 meter by SI prefix definition.
Where it is used: Rare in everyday speech, but it matters because a cubic decimeter is exactly one liter.
Worth knowing: The decimeter's real importance is volumetric: 1 dm³ = 1 L exactly, which is where the liter comes from.
What is a meter?
The meter is the SI base unit of length — the reference every other length unit is now defined against.
Definition: Since 1983 the meter has been defined by fixing the speed of light in vacuum at exactly 299,792,458 meters per second, so a meter is the distance light travels in 1/299,792,458 of a second.
Where it is used: Universal in science, engineering and everyday measurement everywhere except the United States.
Decimeters vs Meters
The decimeter is a metric unit while the meter is an SI unit. That is why the factor between them is not a round number: the two systems were defined independently and only later tied together by exact agreement.
Frequently asked questions
How many meters are in a decimeter?
One decimeter equals 0.1 meters.
What is the formula to convert decimeters to meters?
Multiply the number of decimeters by 0.1. To reverse it, divide by 0.1 instead.
How do I convert meters back to decimeters?
Divide by 0.1, which is the same as multiplying by 10.
How many meters are in 10 decimeters?
10 dm works out to 1 m.
Is there anything to watch out for with decimeters?
The decimeter's real importance is volumetric: 1 dm³ = 1 L exactly, which is where the liter comes from.
How is the decimeter defined?
Exactly 0.1 meter by SI prefix definition.